Beta: Helen PB: Helen and Gerri for your guy’s brilliant ideas. Banner: Helen Proof:G.M. JFK International Airport Terminal 4 Flight 405 New York Red Eye straight to Pittsburgh. Justin on his cell phone: “Thanks Michael. Yeah, I will tell you everything when I get there. I should be there in about 3 hours. No, I’ll take a cab. I’m sure…bye.” (Closes his cell phone) Justin leans back in his seat and pulls out his I-pod to listen to some music on the flight. He can’t believe that Daphne kept something from him; Brian yes, but Daphne no, never her. Novotny-Bruckner Home Michael hangs up the phone and walks into the living room where Ben is sitting on the couch watching TV. Ben: “Who was that?” Michael: “Justin.” Ben: “Is he okay?” Michael: “I think so; I mean, he is coming in two days earlier.” Ben: “Hmm…” They hear the front door open and Hunter walks in. Hunter: “What’s up dudes?” Michael: “Nothing, is the guest room ready for Justin?” Hunter: “Yeah, why?” Ben: “Because he’s coming in early, that’s why.” Hunter: “Are you going to tell Brian?” Michael and Ben look at each other and then at Hunter. Michael: “No, Justin doesn’t want us to.” Hunter: *smiles* “Can I please be there when he finds out?” Ben: “I guess.” Hunter: “Yes!” When Justin’s plane lands it is after midnight and a part of him wants to tell the taxi driver to take him to the loft. He could just imagine Brian’s face if he showed up. But instead, he gives the driver directions to Michael’s and Ben’s place. He will run into Brian soon enough. He isn’t sure that he is ready to face him. Considering he is just as guilty as Brian for not talking to him and pushing him away. The taxi pulls up to the house that looks so small compared to the last time he saw it. He is pretty sure they are all in bed so he takes out the spare key that is hidden under the mat laughing quietly to himself at the most obvious place for it. When he walks into the lightly lit living room he sees Hunter on the couch watching a movie. Justin: “Hey.” Hunter: “Hey Blondie. What are you doing here?” Justin: “I'm here for Deb’s birthday.” Hunter: “I know that, I meant early.” Justin: “Shit happened I needed to get away.” Hunter: “Oh.” Justin walks over to the couch and sits next to Hunter. Justin: “What are you watching?” Hunter: “The end of “Super-man”. The dads were here but they went to bed.” Justin: “Oh, okay.” Hunter: “Are you nervous about seeing him?” Justin: “I don’t know…I’m going to bed.” Hunter: “Night.” Justin: “Night.” Brian wakes up and looks to his side and slowly remembers last night. He gets up and heads to the shower. He doesn’t know what to think. After a few minutes, Jason walks in to the bathroom. Jason: “Brian.” Brian: “What.” Jason: “What are you doing today?” Brian: “I have family stuff. I’m meeting Mikey at the Diner for breakfast. You can come if you want.” Jason: (smiles to himself) “Okay.” They both finish getting ready and head out the door. Jason is worried slightly because of how Brian is acting and Brian is scared of what it means. He hasn’t lost control like that in so long. Liberty Diner Brian walks into the diner with Jason right behind him. As he comes closer to the boys’ table he sees a familiar blond sitting in between Ben and Emmett. Brian slides into his side sitting right across from Justin. Brian: (smiling lovingly) “Hello Sunshine.” Justin: (returning the smile shyly) “Hey Bri” (of course only Justin knows what that does to Brian when he shortens his name. Because he always says it seductively.) Justin looks up at Jason with a raised eyebrow. Brian: “Justin, this is Jason a friend of mine; Jason, this is Justin an amazing artist.” They both shake hands and we can see Jason’s instant dislike of Justin because everyone can see how Brian and Justin feel for each other. Jason slides in to sit next to Brian. When everyone is eating and chitchatting, he leans over and whispers not so quietly in Brian’s ear, Jason: “You felt so tight around my cock; there was no one after me then?” Everyone stops upon hearing the man claiming that he had topped Brian Kinney but Brian didn’t even notice them staring at him. He was so angry with himself for letting the older man get to him once again and for not being able to say no to him. But he was madder with Jason for taking advantage of him and breaking his heart once again. Without considering where he was he answers him: Brian: “You’re wrong; Justin always had that privilege. All he had to do is ask.” He hears Justin gasp and that’s when he notices that everyone in the Diner were staring at him! Brian pushes Jason over and gets up from the booth. Without looking back he leaves. Brian practically runs to the corvette in shock that he just admit not only that Jason topped him but that Justin has on more than one occasion. He just sits there for what seems like forever. Liberty Diner The whole diner is completely still; no one moves or says anything. Hell they are too scared to breathe after hearing the admission from the stud of Liberty. The “family” looks at Justin who is blushing and shrugs his shoulders. Justin: “What?” Emmett: “You…” Ted: “Actually…” Michael: “Topped Brian…” Hunter: “More than once?” Deb: “Way to go sunshine!” Justin: “Guys, Uh…um…” Emmett: “Baby I’m so proud…” Justin: “I’ve gotta go….” Justin runs out of the diner and looks down the street and sees the corvette sitting there so he takes the initiative and walks over to the diver’s side and knocks on the window. Justin: “Hey stud.” Brian: “Get in.” Justin just nods his head and walks to the passenger side of the car and gets in. Once the door is shut, Brian drives off with him in the car. Nobody noticed that Jason slipped out the door right after Justin’s leave. He needed to know who the other blond was to his Brian. He must be important if he topped Brian. Did that mean he was more than the casual fuck? After a little while Brian finally pulls off to a dirt road and parks the car. He looks at Justin and he knows the questions but willing himself to actually ask the blond has haunted him for the last two years. Brian: “Follow me.” Justin: “Ok.” They get out of the car and Justin follows Brian through the woods. They walk for a while in silence. Finally they come to a clearing and sit near the riverbank. Brian: “What are you doing here? Justin: *laughs* “Deb’s Birthday…Did you actually think she would let me miss it?” Brian: “Right, Mother Novotny.” Justin: “My turn, how fucking long have you been talking to Daphne?” Brian looks at him and then back at the water. Brian: “About a month after you left” Justin: “Why didn’t you just fucking call me?” Brian: “I couldn’t.” Justin: “Why not?” Brian: “You would have come home.” Justin: “So once again you choose my life for me, well fuck you Brian.” Brian: “You had to go.” Justin: “You’re right I did but that didn’t mean you had to push me away again.” Diner Emmett: “Can you believe it?” Ted: “That Brian bottomed or that he actually admitted it.” Emmett: “Both actually, who knew our sunshine had it in him.” Ben: “Are you okay?” Michael: “Yeah, I‘ve always known that he loved Justin. I guess I didn’t realize how much.” Ben: “Michael, I know you have had feelings for him.” Michael: “Ben, I’m in love with you. I love Brian but not like that not for a while”. Hunter: “Dudes, who’s that other guy?” Ben: “What guy?” Hunter: “The one that came in with Brian.” Michael: “Jason, we met him yesterday.” Hunter: “Here’s my question; if Brian just met him, why the fuck did he let him top him?” The gang all looks at each other wondering why none of them thought of that question when it was staring at them right in the face. Deb: “All right that’s enough. I’m sure there is more to it than what we think now; my birthday is tomorrow. Who hasn’t shopped?” *slaps Michael upside the head* Deb: “Go buy me something.” Michael: “There is such a thing as the art of surprise, plus Justin being here is your present.” Deb: “No he had to come. I was going to rip his balls off if he didn’t. Now go…shop… I’ll see you at dinner tonight. We'll have a chance then to talk to Justin about what he has been up to.” They all nod their heads and leave the diner. Brian and Justin Brian’s POV Why the fuck did I say that out load for all of Liberty Avenue to hear? Fuck, not only did I admit that Jason fucked me but Justin too? Justin’s POV I look at Brian and I can tell he is brooding because not only did he admit that I topped him not only once but a few times, but so did this Jason. Who the fuck is Jason? Justin: “Who’s Jason?” Brian looks at me and I can’t believe I asked it out loud but I need to know. Is he someone important? Well, duh Justin! Brian doesn’t let random people top him. Fuck. Justin: “Brian, who is he?” But before he can answer the questions his cell rings and I can tell it’s work. Brian: “We have to go back.” Justin: “Okay. I’m here until Sunday.” Brian nods his head. He starts to walk ahead of Justin. Justin runs up behind him and turns him around before he gets in the car. He reaches up and gently brushes his lips against Brian’s. Justin: “Just know…what you said was…” *leans up to Brian’s ear * Justin: “Ridiculously romantic, in a Brian Kinney way.” Justin walks to the passenger side of the car as Brian gets in the drivers side and they head back to the city. Back to the problems they have to face. Brian drops Justin off at the Diner to visit with Deb, and then heads to Kinnetik.